Winning a bronze medal for any Argentine athlete is a great honor . . . maybe with the exception of soccer (futbol).
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This is someone who has never been in any athletic competition. There are very very few who will be disappointed if they don't place first. For everyone else, just placing is a great achievement. In the US, qualifying in the Olympic trials is a great achievement.
A boy of seven practices basketball moves on a makeshift court while others his age play soccer.
For whatever reason, this boy stays up into the wee hours, watching a telecast, from a Country a world away, playing a game that's so alien it might as well come from outer space.. mesmerized by what he sees. Something in his soul is moved. He knows this is how he wants to spend the life he was given.
Imagine that boy is you, but now a man, playing in your last Olympics.
The best player on your team, the one who Proudly carried the nations flag at its President request..
That you are injured for the last game.
In your heart you know you cannot play and help the team.
But you will never have this moment again. With this group of brothers you have shared your life with. Your joy and sorrows.
So even though the pain in your foot is overwhelming... you close it off somewhere in your will, for as long as you can.
You stare at the colors, feel the fabric.. put on that Uniform, which reperesents your life'swork. Your love. Your country, your family. Not what you do, but Who You Are.
Silently you take the court with your teamates. Look at their faces, search their eyes. Treasuring this time recording the seconds in your mind.
So many flashbacks, so many obstacles over come, so many happy memories. One more time you can warm up with these guys, your boys.
And for a few minutes you are happy again, before the pain comes roaring back...
Peace.
Yeah, I read Manu cried like a baby because he couldn't help his team in the bronze game. He tried to hide his tears but some teammates saw it and they got even more fired up.
Chapu Nocioni is one of them and he was on one leg himself. Then after the game they all dedicated the victory to manu. now that's a team
Manu has a huge heart, but it affects his brain. As a fan, the Spurs come first, so anything that Manu does to hurt the Spurs chances is enough reason to ship his butt out. It's too late though, so we're stuck with damaged goods. In the best interest of the team I'm stuck with supporting Manu 100% from here on out, but I can't hide the fact I'm pretty pissed off at the dude.
Last year injured players who played in the Olympics:
Dwane Wade
Yao Ming
Jorge Garbajosa
Manu Ginobili
Is not only Manu, there are some players, who played with Injuries
Caledron, Nocioni,
There are some Franchise players who played too, and for his team is a very high risk, too high than Manu´s Spurs
Kobe Bryant, Lebron James, Carmelo Anthony, Chris Paul, Chris Bosh, Dwigth Howard, Pau Gasol, Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Kidd, between others